Building construction



Mar. 20, 1923. v

r 1. s. HULL.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

F]LED JAN-28,1921- JAMES S. HULL, F IILOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application. filed January 28, 1921. Serial No. 440,598. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. HULL, a citizen of the United States, residing near Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Building Construction, of which the following is a specification. Y i

This invention relates to building construction, and more particularly to the construction of buildings comprising a plurality of blocks of concrete, cement or other suitable building material which blocks are preferably united by means of cementitious 5 material. The invention has for its object to provide improvements in construction of the general nature stated, whereby structures such as houses, walls, silos and in fact any structures within the wide range of adaptability of the invention, may be readily reared or assembled, even by unskilled labor; to this end suitable interfitting blocks are provided, which blocks may be first properly assembled upon a suitable foundation in conformit with the reconceived plan of the builder, after which such blocks may be united by posts or keys .of cementitious material poured from above into a suitable preferably vertically "extending space provided for in the formation of the blocks at adjacent interfitting ends or sides. After the cementitious posts have set, an enduring structure with. securely united portions is had. In addition. to the vertically disposed posts,'I may form a continuous horizontal upper sill, which surmounts the blocks and which may be conveniently formed of cementitious material poured as the posts are poured and so being integral therewith when the material has set or hardened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a building block adapted for use in structures as above outlined which is provided with suitable means. whereby the same may be interfitted or interengaged with other and sirnilarblocks, and which means are suitably formed to provide a space for the key or post to be introduced between adjacent blocks; and whereby a reversible block is reduced.

With t 0 above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed-out in claims. This application is a continuation in part of applicants application Serial No. 279,333, filed February 26, 1919.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of building construction, illustrating a .mode of assembling several features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a building block constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 Figure 2 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary per-' spective view showing the conformation of the corner post or key in the completed structure;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a corner block; and K 1 Figure 6 is a plan view showing blocks embodying a slightly modified form of the invention.

The parts in the several figures are designated by reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in F igures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 thereof, A, B and C and D, designate, in each instance, building blocks embodying the invention. E designates in each instance, a post uniting adjacent blocks, F designates a foundation, and G designates a sill crowning the wall structure built up of blocks.

The blocks A, the details of which will be readily understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3, are preferably rectangular in form, each having a side wall 8, a side wall 9, an end wall 10, and an end wall 11, so providing a hollow, light and strong building block open from top to bottom, providing an air hollow between the walls of the'block. The end wall 10 is preferably provided with spaced vertically extending flanges 12 each of which is preferably spaced a slight distance inwardly of the respective corner of the block; these flanges 12 are shown as extending the full height of the block, that is from top to bottom of the same, and as having converging sides as at 12*, Figure 3, and so being of triangular cross-section. At the end wall 11 the block is provided with an extension 8 of the side wall 8, and an extension9 of the side wall 9; the outer faces of such extensions are continuations of the outside faces of the respective side walls, while the inner faces of such extensions are angularly disposed with respect to the outside faces of the block and diverge outwardly from the end wall 11 so providing a, vertically disposed recess 11 at the end of the block opposite the flange-carrying end, such recess being, due to its complementary formation, adapted to receive the flanges 12 of a similar block when such blocks are laid end to end.

The blocks B are formed exactly like the blocks A but are a trifle shorter, in order that a structure similar to that shown in Figure 1, with blocks laid in break-joint formation, or staggered relation may be conveniently reared, by employing blocks such as A and B in conjunction with corner blocks C, all of the same height and width.

, The corner blocks G are preferably of greater length than the other blocksandare each formed with a side wall 13, a side wall 14, an end wall 15, an end wall 16, and a vertical web 17, extending across the block from side to side, so providing an air hollow 18 and a post-receiving hollow 19 which extends vertically through each block C. The post-receiving hollow 19 is of slightly greater length than width so that the web 17 may lie in re istration with the end walls of blocks like B or A of adjacent layers. In order to provide for the proper junction of blocks B or A with the corner blocks of their respective layers, each corner block C is provided at its side wall 14 with a pair of spaced triangular flanges 14 of cross-section similar to that of the flanges described in connection with the other blocks, the recessed end of a. block B or A being fitted over the flan es 14 of its corner block C, the flanges o the corner blocks being disposed at such distance from the end of each block C that the outside face of the block B or A joined to a corner block will lie in the same vertical plane as the corresponding end face of the joined corner block. By positioning opposite corner blocks C of each layer, as shown at 0 and c, Figure 1, and placing the corner blocks C of adjacent layers at right angles to each other /as will be seen by comparing the positiorfs of the corner blocks C, Figure 1, and building wall portions between the corner blocks of blocks A and B, joined endto end, with the triangular flanges of one block fitted into the recessed end of an adjacent block, a very strong and durable'structure may be produced; each corner block C has a recessed formation at its end wall 15 corresponding to the formation of the recessed ends of the. blocks A and B, so that the flanged ends of blocks A or B. may be joined thereto to tion of the post shown at E, Figure 4, is produced and the corner post of cementltious material when poured therein, after the laying of several courses, or upon completion of the laying of all the wall blocks, will have the fonn'illustrated, each corner block being actually interlocked with the post by having a key 20 of the post lying against its side wall 14 and between the flanges thereon, and by having one of the rectangular portions 21 of the main body of the post passed through and filling the rectangular post-receiving orifice in such corner block 0. The rectangular relation of the corner blocks, with the overlying and interposed blocks B or vantage of the interlocked corner post, provides for a structure of great stabilit By joining one of .the relatively s ort blocks B to the side of the corner blocks, the flange-carrying end wall of the block B will lie in the vertical plane of the recessed end wall of the corner blocks of adjacent layers, and by properly laying other blocks A end to end with the corner blocks. and the blocks B, the blocks may be laid with A, coupled with the ad the joints of alternate layers staggered, and I with post-receiving or post-molding openings, of all the layers in registration, the blocks of one layer extending from the respective corner block, having their flanged ends pointed in the same direction as the recessed ends of adjacent layers. Furthermore, a wall "so constructed has a series of air spaces each formed by the registering air hollows of the succeeding layers of blocks.

A special type of block, shown at H has both its ends recessed so that one end may receive the triangularflanges of an adjacent block, while the' other end provides a. recess in registration with the recessed end of a block of an adjacent layer, to the end that a window or door frame may be fitted into an opening provided in a structure wall, as shown in Figure 1. Such frame may comprise side members 21 each carrying blocks 22 adapted to be fitted into the recessed ends of blocks at the opening and held in place by a transverse bottom sill 23 and a similar sill member which may be provided at the top of the frame.

The top course of a structure may comprise'blocks D, which may be made to con form to the types A, B and C, but which have their air hollows closed at the top bya top wall'd', to the end that, if desired, a structure may bebui'lt up of blocks, with its top course of'blocks D, a mold applied,

and top sill G of cementitious material, such the same time, so uniting all parts of the structure. A member 25 adapted to have ceiling or roofmembers secured thereto may be embedded in the sill if desired In cases'where the sill is 'not the grout forming the cementitious posts,

provided, it pour directly .into the vertical post-receiving Openings formed between-adjacent blocks,

andin the corner blocks, filling such ;:op enings to the top of the wall, and the cementitious posts upon setting bind the several layers through which they. pass together.

The foundation may be. formed in any suitable manner, the form shown having a grooveor channel 26 in its upper face, and in registration with the openings of the first layer of blocks which are laid directly upon such upper foundation face and which may be united thereto by pouring cementitious material into the blocks partially filling such lower blocks and the channel. In pouring the posts, the material thereof is caused to unite with the material keying the lower course or layer of blocks to the foundation.

Suitable vertical reinforcing rods 27 may be placed in the post-receiving openings before filling the same, and horizontal reinforcing rods 28 may be placed in the structure if desired; to this end, if form certain of the blocks, or all blocks, if desired, with semi-circular notches 29 in walls thereof, and as best shown in F igures 2 and 3, these notches are preferably located at the top of the end walls of the blocks, extending inwardly to a thin wall portion 30, and to a depth corresponding approximately to the thickness of the reinforcing rod. W'herea horizontal reinforcing rod is to be used, I break down the thin .wall portions 30 with a hammer or other implement and so provide a space in the end walls to accommodate the rod which may extend longitudinally throughout a layer of blocks as shown at 31, Figure 1.

In Figure 6, I have shown blocks suitable for building silos or other structures'with circular or curved walls; these blocks difi'er from the blocks A principally in that each is formed'with one long and one short side wall, and in that the recessed and flanged portions are suitably formed to allow for end-to-end interfitting of blocks slightly angularly related.

In practicing my invention, 1 preferably make the flanges of sufiicient length to have their tops lie against the corresponding converging walls of adjacent blocks at a point approximately midway of the length of such walls, so producing a post-molding opening of proper symmetrical figure, and the posts poured therein will have corresponding symmetrical cross-sections, and will preferably be thicker transversely of the wall than .post' contacting and bonded with adjacent blocks will be approximately equal.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent tions with openings producing post-receivbuilding construction comprising "plurality' of superposed layers of interfitting blocks formed at their'interfitting poring openings between adjacent blocks of the same layer, certain of said blocks being corner blocks angularly' placed with respect. 1 to corner blocks-of adjacent layers and each formed with a post-receiving opening communicating with the post-receivingopen--.

ing of the corner block of an adjacent layer. and with the post-receivingopening formed between said last named corner block'. r

and another block of the same layer fitted thereto. 1 a

2. A building construction comprising a plurality of superposed layers of interfitting blocks formed at their interfitting portions with openings producing post receiving openings extending vertically through suecessive layers between adjacent blocks of the same layer, certain of. said blocks. be;

ing corner blocks angularlyplaced with re-,

spect to corner blocks of adjacent layers'and each having a post-receivingopen-ing, and a post of cement tious material disposed'm said corner block openings and extending from, layer to layer and having integral ke disposed in the post-receiving openings formed between said corner blocks and other adjacent blocks. a

3. A building construction comprising a plurality of superposed layers of hollow 1nterfitting blocks'formed at their interfitting portions with openings producing post-receiving openings between adjacent'blocks of the same layer, certain of said blocks being corner blocks of greater length than width and being angularly placed with respect to corner blocks of adjacent layers and being] each formed with a rectangular post-receiving opening extending across the correspondingopening of the corner blocks of adjacent layers and the post-receiving 'openlngs formed by said last named corner blocks and other blocks fitted thereto, and a post 'ofcementitious material having a. mam portion filling said post-receivingopenings in'said corner blocks and extending from layer to layer and having integrabkey portions 1; v each filling the post-receivingspa'ce between f one of said corner blocks and one'of said other blocks fitted thereto whereby an in terlocking relation of post and corner blocks is had.

4. A building constructioncoiiiprising a] pluralit of superposedlayers of hollow 1'nterfitting blocks formed at their interfittln'g portions with openingsproducing post-receiving openingsbetween adjacent blocks of i the same layer, certain of said blocks be- .tinuousvertical post-receiving spaces exi all of said posts.

' sponding converging wall and wherebg 1 tending from layer to layer, a oementitious post in the post-receiving openings of the corner blocks, a cementitious post in each of said continuous post-receiving spaces, and a sill formed integrally'with and uniting A hollow building block having side and end walls, one pa1r of oppositely disposed walls each having alined notches extending partly therethrough, said wallshaving frangible portions in line with said notches.

6. A wall construction comprising hollow bloc-ks arranged end to end, the ends of said blocks having frangible ,portions in line with openings extending partly therethrough, the frangibleportions of a plurality ofsuccessive block ends being broken away and forming successive alined channels, and a reinforcing rod received in said channels.

7. Hollow building blocks having interfitting formations; said formations being respectively a recessed formation of one of said blocks at one of the walls thereof and a plurality of flanges of triangular crosssection on one of the walls of the other of said blocks; said recessed formation having converging walls adapted for enga ement by the outer faces of said triangu ar flanges when the blocks are assembled, so providing a. symmetrical post-receiving and molding hollow space in addition to but. separate from the hollows of the blocks; said triangular flanges being of such length that each covers only a part of the correthe symmetrical post-molding space is pro iced between the inner surfaces of the triangular flanges and the wall surface lying between them presented to the post by one of the blocks, and the similar opposedsurfaces of the other-of the blocks and comprising the portions of the converging Walls not covered by the flanges and the wall surface lying between the converging walls, whereby when a post is poured, it extends through successive courses' 8. A wall construction comprising a plurality of superposed layers of interfitting building blocks, each layer comprising a series of said blocks, and each of said blocks having interfitting engagement with an adjacent block of its series whereby building hollows are produced in each layer and in registration with corresponding building hollows of adjacent layers; and posts extending throughout a plurality of sucessive layers and disposed in said building hollows, each post having a portion Within the end of each adjacent block.

9. A wall construction-comprising a. plu-I 'rality of superposed layers of interfitting building blocks, each layer comprising a series of said blocks, and each of said blocks having an air hollow in registration with the corresponding air hollow of a block of an adjacent layer and being formed for interfitting engagement with an adjacent block of its senies whereby building hollows are produced in each layer and in registration with corresponding building hollows of adjacent layers; and posts of cementitious material in said building hollows and extend ing throughout a plurality of the layers.

10. A wall construction comprising a lurality of superposed layer of buil ing blocks, each layer comprising a series of blocks each having an opening extending upwardly therethrough in re istra'tion with the corresponding opening 0 a block of an adjacent layer, each having spaced projections at one end and more widely spaced projections at the other end, all of the blocks of one layerbeing laid in the same direction with the projections at one end of. each block fitting between the more widely spaced projections of the next block and the blocks in each layer being arranged in the direction opposite to that of the blocks of the adjacent layer whereby broken joints are produced, and posts between the interfitting projections of the adjacent blocks and extending throughout aplurality of layers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES S. HULL.

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